Climate change and sun power

There is a multitude of reasons so many countries are turning to solar energy for their power requirements. The most pressing need is for the earth to cleanse itself. Actually, that’s not possible at the rate we are polluting. There is one way we can lower noxious pollution and save money at the same time. Solar energy is the clear answer and has been for years. Now that solar panel prices are dropping, more people are able to invest in this vital technology.

The meteoric rise of energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy in 2017 generated economic benefits without requiring increases in energy consumption or greenhouse-gas emissions. The growth of sustainable energy industries contributed to greater economic competitiveness, job creation and the expansion of the American economy. The 2018 factbook is the sixth edition of an annual resource that outlines key energy trends contributing to American economic competitiveness. This year’s edition demonstrates yet again that the rise of renewable energy positively impacts the American economy, energy infrastructure, and the environment. 

The transformation of the energy sector escalated in 2017

Natural gas is still the primary source of power generation in the U.S., and wind and solar additions, combined with increased hydropower generation, drove renewable generation up from 15% to 18% of the total electricity grid in one year. Energy productivity, which is the amount of GDP produced by a unit of energy, rose 2.5% in 2017. Costs remained low: Consumers devoted only 1.3% of their spending toward electricity, less than at any time in recorded history. This offset a rise in the share of spending devoted to gasoline (up to 2.1% in 2017 from 1.9% in 2016), allowing the total percent of household expenses dedicated to energy costs to hover under 4%, near an all-time low. Emissions from the electricity sector plummeted again, falling 4.2% year-on-year to the lowest level in more than 27 years. The U.S. remains globally competitive for energy-intensive industries, thanks to low industrial power prices, and U.S. investors continue to invest in clean energy.

Corporations demanding clean energy

Historically, industrial power prices in the U.S. have been among the least expensive in the world (averaging 6.76 cents/kWh in 2016). The U.S. had the second-lowest prices of the G-7 countries in 2016; Canada was No.1. Corporations are playing a stronger role in the energy transformation;  demanding cleaner energy and seeking to capture gains from energy efficiency. In 2017, corporations signed new deals for 2.9 GW worth of off-site renewable capacity. Globally, clean energy investment rose to $333 billion, the second-highest amount on record. U.S. investments tracked 2016 levels, at $57 billion, but saw a shift in capital deployment toward wind and energy-smart technologies.

You can do your part by installing a solar energy system for your home or business

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.